Derek Schmidt
RepublicanU.S. Representative, KS-2| Age | 58 (b. 1968-01-23) |
| Gender | Male |
| In office since | 2025-01-03 (~1 yrs) |
| Religion | Lutheran |
| Education | B.A. (journalism), University of Kansas, 1990; M.A. in international politics, University of Leicester (England); J.D., Georgetown University Law Center; S.J.D. (Doctor of Juridical Science), University of Kansas School of Law |
| Prior occupation | Attorney; legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Nancy Kassebaum and Senator Chuck Hagel; assistant Kansas attorney general; special counsel to Governor Bill Graves; director of Independence Industries Inc. |
| Military service | No |
| Birthplace | Independence, Kansas |
| Marital status | married — Jennifer Schmidt |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Independence, Kansas |
Pending research: race / ethnicity · languages · notable relatives · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 2000 |
| Previous offices | Kansas State Senator, 15th district (2001-2011) · Kansas Senate Majority Leader (2005-2011) · Kansas Attorney General (2011-2023) |
| Committees | House Committee on Armed Services · House Committee on the Judiciary · House Committee on Small Business |
| Leadership | Kansas Senate Majority Leader (2005-2011) · President, National Association of Attorneys General (2018 term) |
| Ideology | Republican; conservative. As Kansas AG joined multi-state Republican litigation challenging the Affordable Care Act, EPA Clean Power Plan/methane rules, and joined Texas v. Pennsylvania (2020) challenging the presidential election results. |
Financial
| 240 acres farmland, Cherryvale, Kansas | real_estate · $500,001–$1,000,000 · 2024 |
| Rental property, 5th Street, Independence, Kansas (jointly held) | real_estate · $100,001–$250,000 · 2024 |
Top donors: American Council of Engineering Companies PAC ($10,000) · Trinity Industries Employee PAC ($2,000)
Scandals & crimes ledger
No recorded incidents. Under the adjudicated-only methodology, an entry appears only when a court or official body has formally acted and the record is cited.